RWO is the first German manufacturer to obtain a Germamischer Lloyd (GL) certificate for its ballast water treatment unit CleanBallast. The document was handed over at the SMM in Hamburg on 4 September 2012.
The Approval Certificate confirms the CleanBallast System, with a capacity of 150-3.750 m³/h, complies with the regulations. Moreover, the electrical and electronic components fulfil the stricter GL requirements in comparison to the IMO ones regarding environmental assessment (vibrations, low temperatures and damp heat). The electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), which is not taken into account in the IMO-requirements, was also tested. The system related software was also subject to a review according to the GL-guidelines.
CleanBallast System
The RWO ballast water treatment unit is based on a mechanical cleaning with a filter and a subsequent disinfection. The CleanBallast System includes a back flushing 55 micron filter pad, a disinfection unit EctoSys and a neutralisation unit including the switch cabinets for electricity supply, control and monitoring. The filter pad has a redundant design to ensure an uninterrupted ballast water treatment, even when the filter is being back flushed.
About Ballast Water
Ballast water is indispensable for reliable and efficient ship operation. It has an effect on trim, draught and stability of the ship for safe navigation. However, the aquatic organisms and pathogenic bacteria carried in the ballast water represent a threat to the environment and biological diversity. Therefore, the International Maritime Organisation IMO has adopted an independent convention in 2004, the so called "International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments". This agreement comes into force twelve months after the day it has been ratified by thirty states, whose merchant fleet at least represents 35 percent of the global merchant fleet gross tonnage. It is expected that this will be reached in the next six to twelve months and that the agreement will than come into force twelve months later.
Several countries have already introduced national norms to regulate ballast water exchange or ballast water treatment (USA) and specified the necessary documents or requirements on ballast water treatment systems according to the BWM-agreement.
Picture: (f.l.t.r.) Hanspeter Raschle, Head of Marine Products & Manufacturing at GL, Hagen Markus, GL Marine Products & Manufacturing, Steffen Schlöricke, Product Manager CleanBallast at RWO and Martyn Ayris, Managing Director RWO.
